Can washing machine



W. H. PAULSON W CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /n van tor Walter H. Pau/son Dani/van, (70m d 340% Patented Dec. 16, 1947 CAN WASHING MACHINE Walter H. Paulson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Lathrop-Paulson Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 10, 1941, Serial N 0. 387,790

Claims.

This invention relates to a can washing machine, and the invention is adapted for use in washing other types of'containers and devices.

An object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple mechanism or inexpensive structure which may be employed for effectively washing cans and containers of other types. A further object is to provide an extremely simple mechanism which will enable portions of materials within a container to be removed and recovered and which will enable the container to be effectively cleaned. A further object is to provide means for washing the container, both inside and out by a minimum of operations, the entire operation requiring an extremely brief period. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, a top plan view.

In the illustration given, A designates a frame; B, a cradle in which the exterior of a can may be washed; and C, mechanism for washing the interior of a can.

The frame A may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, pedestals l0 support a main frame carrying the washing apparatus B and C.

The mechanism B for washing the exterior of the can comprises a support or cradle portion ll provided preferably on its interior with raised projections I2 which support the can above the bottom of the trough or cradle. The cradle H is preferably dished or depressed to provide a convenient receptacle for the milk can it or other container to be cleaned. A hot water pipe it is provided with a horizontal perforated portion I5, designed to throw hot water against the side of the can, and with a horizontal section 16, which is also perforated and which is employed for directing hot water against the bottom of the can. A drain pipe II leads from the end portion of the open tank H above the bottom and maintains the tank about two-thirds full of water.

Beyond the member B is a receptacle indicated by the numeral l1 and into which cream or fat removed from the can l3 can be poured, the receptacle being provided with an oulet [8 discharging into a container [9, the container l9 being supported by the platform 20.

The washing mechanism C includes a cylindrical tank 2| which is provided at its top with grill work 22 adapted to receive and support the can or container when the same is tilted upon its mouth. Means are supplied for supplying cold water, a cleansing solution, and hot water, the same being discharged through nozzles into the interior of the can.

Any suitable means for supplying hot water may be employed. In the ilustration given, a gas heater 23 of well-known construction is employed to heat the water within the supply tank 24. The water flows between the heater and the supply tank through pipes 25 and 26.

From the top of the supply tank 24, water flows through the line 21 to a branched fitting 28. From the fitting 28, the hot water flows through the valve 29, to the stem of which is secured a treadle member 38, and thence through pipe I4 to the washing pipes 15 and It. It will be understood that the spring within the valve normally holds the stem thereof in upper position and, when the treadle member 30 is released, the spring urges it again to its upper position.

The hot water from fitting 28 also flows through the valve 3i when the same is opened by treadle member 32, and thence through pipes 33 and 3 to the nozzle 35. Cold water from any source enters through pipe 3'3, thence through valve 3! controlled by treadle member 38, and through pipe 39 to nozzle 40.

Compressed air, steam, or any other suitable pressure fluid enters through line 4|, and thence through valve 42 controlled by treadle member A3. and through the line M to the ejector nozzle 45. A liquid pipe 45 leads from the bottom of the nozzle 45 and enters a cleansing fluid tank 31.

The tank 41 may contain a non-corrosive washing acid of any suitable type, a cleansing alkali solution, or any other desired form of solution. With the apparatus shown. it is found that a concentrated washing solution may be employed and that it is effectively applied through the use of a gaseous medium. In its concentrated form, the solution is very effective, and the use of air or other means for distributing it in a thin film over the interior of the can is economical in the application of such concentrated material thereto.

The fresh Water inlet to the tank 24 is through pipe 48 which enters the bottom of the tank.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, the can or other container is placed within the trough or a tank I I, with the side thereof resting upon spacer members I2. Treadle 30 is depressed by the operator, causing hot or warm water to flow through the pipes 15 and I6, applying cleansing fluid, and warming up the can as the same is rotated by hand within the trough. By the time the can has been washed and the walls thereof heated by the application of hot water, it is found that the fatty material within the can is rendered fiuid and that the same may be readily removed therefrom and recovered by raising the can and allowing the fats to flow into the container l7. Continuing the upward movement of the can causes it to rest upon its mouth on the grill work 22, with which the top of the tank 2| is provided. Upon the removal of the can from the tank ll, treadle Si] is released and the hot water ceases to flow. After the can has been emptied of the fats rendered fluid therein and has been moved upon the grill work to a position above the nozzle M, the operator presses upon treadle 3S and causes cold water to rinse off the interior of the can. Treadle 38 is then released and the can is shifted to a position above the nozzle 45. When in this position, treadle 43 is depressed, and compressed air enters through pipe 44 into nozzle 55, and by suction lifts a liquid stream from the washing solution tank 41. The concentrated acid or other material is distributed by the air stream evenly upon the interior of the container, producing a suflicient cleaning of the interior with a relatively small amount of cleaning material. After a controlled amount of cleaning material has been introduced into the can or other container, treadle 23 is released and the can is then shifted over the hot water nozzle 35. Treadle 32 is then depressed and hot water discharges into the can, removing the products caused by the contact with the cleansing material and effectively cleaning the can. The can is now clean and ready for removal.

It will be understood that the apparatus may be used for cleaning can covers, bottles, and containers of other types.

While the cleaning nozzles have been shown in separated position, it is understood that they may, if desired, be grouped closely together so that the mouth of the can need not be shifted during the several operations. In the illustration given, the can mouth may be extended over one or two nozzles at the same time.

The cleaning operation is extremely brief. After the application of hot water to the can, the can is tilted upwardly, causing the fats to flow out, and allowed to stand, with the mouth facing downwardly, and then is shifted from one nozzle to the other as desired, the various washing operations being carried on by pressure of the treadle members 30, 32, 38 and 43 in the sequence desired. It will be understood that the sequence of steps may be modified and, if desired, certain steps, such as washing with cold water, omitted. The operator can carry through the operation of cleansing a can in a very brief time and with very little manual eifort.

In the application of the concentrated treating solution, a thorough application is effected through the use of the gaseous medium and without wasting the material. The concentrated material is applied by air or other medium in an extremely thin film where it can effectively operate as a detergent or cleanser.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth certain details and steps as desirable, it will be understood that such details and steps may be employed widely without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class set forth, a frame providing an open top tank and a grill in substantially horizontal alignment, said tank being adapted to receive a can lying on its side, means for supplying a hot liquid against the side of the can, nozzles below said grill Work, means for discharging liquid through said nozzles when said can is up-ended upon said grill work, and a receptacle below said grill work and lying between said nozzles and said open top tank, said receptaole being adapted to receive liquids discharged from said can when the same is up-ended on said grill Work.

2. A can washing unit of the character set forth, comprising a frame, said frame providing an open tank adapted to receive the side of a can and a grill work supported in advance of said can and in alignment with the mouth thereof, nozzles supported under said grill work and including a concentrated solution nozzle, means for supplying a gaseous medium and concentrated solution to said washing solution nozzle, a cold water line communicating with one of said nozzles, heating mechanism for supplying hot water to the other of said nozzles, and a drip receptacle carried by said frame below said grill and between said nozzles and said open tank.

3. In apparatus of the class set forth, a frame providing an open top tank and a grill in substantially horizontal alignment, said tank being adapted to receive a can lying on its side, means for supplying a hot liquid against the side of the can, a nozzle below said grill, means for discharging liquid through said nozzle when said can is up-ended upon said grill, receptacle means below said grill and lying between said nozzle and said open top tank, said receptacle means being adapted to receive liquids discharged from said can when the same is up-ended thereon, and a reservoir adapted to receive liquids collected by said receptacle.

4. Can washing apparatus comprising a frame providing a support for receiving a can lying on its side, means for supplying a hot liquid against the sde of the can on said support, a grill supported by said frame adjacent to and in advance of said support for receiving said can in up-ended position, a nozzle below said grill, means for discharging liquid through said nozzle into said can up-ended upon said grill, and receptacle means below said grill and lying between said nozzle and said support, said receptacle means being adapted to receive liquids discharged from said can when the same is up-ended on said grill.

5. Can washing apparatus comprising a frame providing a support for receiving a can lying on its side, means for supplying hot liquid against the sde of a can lying on said support, a grill supported by said frame in advance of said support and in substantial alignment with the neck of a can lying on said support, a nozzle below said grill, means for discharging liquid through said nozzle into said can up-ended upon said grill, and receptacle means below said grill and lying oetween said nozzle and said support for receiving liquids discharged from said can when the same is up-ended upon the grill.

WALTER H. PAULSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Goodhue Dec. 28, 1915 Seggerman July 3, 1923 Coffing Aug. 17, 1937 Clark et a1 Sept. 3, 1940 Blair Sept. 14, 1920 Zunner et 211. e Dec. 3, 1912 Sparr Oct. 15, 1918 Number Number m 119,819 584,264 672,273 141,287

Name Date Keil Dec. 12, 1922 Born Sept. 26, 1939 Zahm Aug, 25, 1914 Stegemann Aug. 11, 1936 Adams et a1 Dec. 1, 1903 Loew Sept. 13, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 17, 1918 Germany Sept. 16, 1933 France Sept. 16, 1929 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1920' 

